VR commuter traffic to expand from Lahti to Kouvola and Kotka on 5 January 2022

Rail traffic from Lahti to Kouvola, Kotka and Port of Kotka will be changed to VR commuter traffic on 5 January 2022. The change will clarify and standardise travel, as the routes are already served by commuter rolling stock. The terms of travel and tickets will also be updated, as a result of which most of the prices will be lower. The train service model will also change, and commuter train conductors will start travelling on the trains, moving from one train service to another. Tickets will become available at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 30 December 2021.

The traffic from Lahti to Kouvola and from Kouvola to Port of Kotka is already served by VR’s commuter rolling stock. Ticket products and the service model will also be updated in line with commuter traffic. A new O train code will be introduced for the route from Kouvola to Port of Kotka. Long-distance trains will continue to stop in Kouvola.

Same fare means that the ticket price will always be the same for each route. In long-distance traffic, the price changes depending on how close to the departure the ticket is bought and how full the train is. For frequent travellers, the changes mean up to 20% lower ticket prices.

Example prices, Kouvola-Kotka (adult)

• Single ticket €4.10
  
• 10-journey multi-ticket €32.80 (€3.28 per journey)
  
• Season ticket 30 days €97
  

Example prices, Lahti-Kouvola (adult)

• Single ticket €5.50
  
• 10-journey multi-ticket €44.00 (€4.40 per journey)
  
• Season ticket 30 days €148
  

There will also be changes in the discounts for special groups. In commuter traffic, students, pensioners and off-duty conscripts and non-military servicemen will receive a 50% discount on the price of single and multi-tickets. There will also be a 50% discount on children’s season tickets. Children under the age of seven travel for free.

Additional services subject to a charge in long-distance traffic, such as travelling with prams, bikes or pets, are free of charge on commuter trains.

Easier everyday life with first & last mile connections

We have created trip chains in cooperation with local traffic operators. Passengers can buy combo tickets that are accepted both on trains and in other public transport from Waltti, the city transport system of Kouvola and Kotka. Learn more about first and last mile connections.

Tickets for commuter trains

Commuter train tickets can be purchased in the VR Matkalla mobile app, on vr.fi websites, at ticket vending machines and at any of the 600 R-kioski shops in Finland. Tickets cannot be purchased on the train; it must be purchased in advance before boarding the train. On VR’s commuter trains, an inspection fee of €80 may be imposed on customers without tickets. Learn more about commuter traffic.

Do you have a long-distance multi, season or single ticket to the Lahti-Kouvola-Kotka area?

As the Kouvola-Kotka route becomes a commuter traffic area, we will exceptionally refund long-distance season, multi and single tickets purchased for the area.

Season tickets and multi-tickets

If you have a season ticket for long-distance traffic between (Helsinki or) Lahti and Kouvola, but want to use only commuter trains in the future, you can cancel the ticket by contacting our customer service. The same applies if you have a season ticket for long-distance traffic between Kouvola and Kotka. The unused journeys on the ticket will be refunded, and you can buy a commuter season ticket.

If you have a multi-ticket for the route between (Helsinki or) Lahti and Kouvola and want to use only commuter trains in the future, we will refund the unused journeys, after which you can buy a new multi-ticket for commuter traffic. If your ticket is for the route between Kouvola and Kotka, the remaining journeys on the long-distance ticket will be cancelled and you can buy a multi-ticket for commuter traffic.

Z-train single tickets

If you have bought a single ticket for commuter traffic on the Z-train between 30 December 2021 and 4 January 2022, but the ticket has not been used, you can exceptionally cancel the single ticket for commuter traffic and receive a refund by contacting customer service.

This is because the change in commuter traffic will enter into force on 5 January 2022, but for technical reasons, the ticket price and ticket conditions of the Z-train will change on 30 December 2021 (thus the previous conditions will apply on Z-trains from 30 December 2021 to 4 January 2022).